America’s Great Game In Afghanistan

War on terror has entered tenth year but the US is still clueless when and how it will terminate the war. One of the reasons for its lack of progress is that in its given set of priorities, Afghanistan was accorded lower priority since it was considered an almost accomplished affair. Another reason for prevalent confusion is that rather than keeping its allies friendly and regional countries friendly and within its loop, it has either annoyed them or kept them out of the loop. It has upset Pakistan by meddling into its domestic affairs, using drones despite protests, continuing to sing ‘do more’ mantra and distrusting it. While Pakistan has been assigned the frontline duties in war on terror and made non-NATO ally, the US has all along given preference to India over Pakistan.

None can deny that brilliant performance of Pak Army has been the only silver lining amidst dark clouds of gloom and doom in Afghanistan for US led ISAF. Although the US admits that Pakistan is relatively in a better position to help in finding a political settlement in Afghanistan, yet it cannot help distrusting and maligning it. It also knows that in case of a running battle, Pakistan Army is the only entity capable of providing security cover to withdrawing coalition troops by road via Torkham and Chaman.

Despite the contrasting performances of resource heavy ISAF and ill-equipped Pakistan Army fighting under severe constraints, the US officials have the cheeks to point fingers at Pakistan and ask it to do more to destroy safe havens of militants in North Waziristan, They do so without realizing that it would be counter productive to make further demands on Pakistan and may exacerbate existing tense Pak-US relations.